The key to having a quality player evaluation experience and player placement is to have the process be transparent, and to have excellent communication amongst all involved.

Assessment Process

Players must attend a minimum of one, but may attend all of the scheduled assessment sessions for their division (if they want to try out for the ‘A’ team). All attempts will be made to create a schedule that accommodates age/group sport events, school events, etc. but ultimately the schedule will be set collaboratively by the executive. If the number of players in the division (ie. only enough players for one team) does not warrant the need for an assessment session one will not be held.

Evaluators will be provided forms to rate players on various skills, abilities, attributes and finally if the player should be rated A or B. The data will be complied after each session, attention will be given to insure that all players are being observed, assessed, and provided some feedback. This data will be provided to the coaches to compare with their assessment of the players to identify areas of discrepancy and focus observation on these players at the following assessments. The end result will be a list of players that have been rated as A or B with “bubble” players being noted. Players released from other associations will be given the opportunity to try out for ‘A’ teams and final rosters will not be completed until afterwards.

In some situations, a coach may request additional coach-led practices to finalize their roster.

If numbers warrant the need for a separate goalie assessments, sessions will be conducted to create opportunities to evaluate goalies in controlled environments

Evaluators

The evaluators selected should have the following backgrounds:
● Have no direct connection to the division they are assessing
● Have knowledge of the game
● Ideally have coached or played at a high level
● Be able to observe and provide detailed feedback on players
Evaluators should be consistent and ideally able to attend all of the evaluation sessions for the age division.

Role of the Coach

Following the completion of the evaluation process the coach will select their team. The coach will do this using the data provided. Players not selected to the ‘A’ team may request feedback which would include the data collected by evaluators and any coach observations.

Injury and Illness

If a player is unable to attend any of the scheduled assessments due to injury or illness and is able to provide a doctor’s note which confirms this, they will be provided an opportunity to attend three practices. Following this a decision will be made as to the players placement at A or B.

‘A’ Team Expectations

The following provides a general idea of the level of commitment expected for A teams.

● Two to Three practices per week
● One to Two games per week
● Provincial Championship if team qualifies will be held in mid to late July
● 2 or more out-of-town Tournaments